Jesus Loves Me?: Luke 18:15-17

Gathering Prayer: (Do this prayer repeat-after-me style)
Dear Jesus, we thank you for time to feed our faith as a family, and time to learn about how much Jesus loves us.  Help our time together to be holy time.  In your name we pray, Amen.

Bible Story:  Luke 18:15-17
Read the story “Jesus Blesses the Children” or “Jesus Welcomes the Children” from a children’s Bible, your family Bible, or you can find an easy to read version here:

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+18%3A15-17&version=ERV

Discuss as a family:
Why do you think Jesus’ friends didn’t want children to see Jesus?  Why do you think Jesus welcomed them?  How do you think Jesus feels about us?  What kind of people does Jesus love?  What age of people does Jesus love?  Does Jesus love you?  How do you know?

Song:  Jesus Loves Me
This Family God Time actually came about on the fly.  My middle daughter came up to me with her prayer book and asked if we could do “Jesus loves me” after supper.  I thought she meant she wanted us to sing the song together, so I said yes.  As I was loading the dishwasher, she came up to me again, and I stopped to sing the classic song “Jesus Loves Me.”  She listened, and then said, “Okay, now we go in the living room for God Time for Jesus Loves Me.”  I was surprised, but didn’t want to pass up an opportunity, so we went for it.  They wanted to sing a song called “Jesus Loves Me” from Group’s Cave Quest Bible School.  You can hear a clip of the song here:

https://www.group.com/category/ministry-resources/childrens-ministry/vbs/cave-quest.do

Choose “music” at the top of the page.  It is the last song in this category.

This is my youngest daughter’s favorite song from Bible School.  She will often ask it as a question:  “Mama, Jesus love me?”  “Yes,” I say, “Jesus loves you.”  Then, she launches into the song.

Of course, you could also sing the classic version!

Activity:  Jesus Loves Me Hearts
For our activity, I cut out hearts and wrote “Jesus loves me!” around the edge.  Then, I let my girls use two heart paper punches and fancy paper to cut out multiple small hearts.  They glued their small hearts to the large heart, and our project was complete.  They have been using them as fans and cards to give one another.  I suppose you could even hang them on a bulletin board or the fridge, if you want!  This morning, my oldest daughter told me she wants a heart to decorate for each of our family members, so we all remember how much Jesus loves us.  Guess I know what I am doing over my lunch break J.

Here are our finished products:

Thanks for your commitment to faithfully feed your family’s faith!  I hope that this time was holy time for you.

Closing Prayer: (Can be a repeat after me prayer if you have non-readers in your family)
Dear Jesus, we thank you for loving each of us, big and small, young and old.  Help us to to remember that you love us always, no matter what.  In your name we pray, Amen.

A Baby and a Bush: Exodus 1-4

Gathering Prayer: (Do this prayer repeat-after-me style)
Dear Jesus, we thank you for time to feed our faith as a family, and time to learn about your servant Moses.  Help our time together to be holy time.  In your name we pray, Amen.

Bible Story:  Exodus 1:6-2:15, 3:1-15, 4:1-17
My family is continuing to discover the Bible App for Kids.  It is fabulous and free!  This summer, when I don’t have other ideas, we are definitely going to start here for Family God Time.  It is available on itunes, Google Play, and Amazon.  You can download a copy here:  https://www.bible.com/kids

This week, we did the story, “A Baby and a Bush,” which tells the story of the childhood and call of Moses.  This app includes the story, interactive pieces, and questions to ponder.  Go through it together as a family.  In my family, we have to take turns interacting with the story, or they crash the app.  Each child gets a turn, switching every time we “turn the page.”

If you do not have access to this app, you can read the story together here:
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+1%3A6-2%3A15%2C+3%3A1-15%2C+4%3A1-17&version=ERV

Discuss as a family:
After reading this story, what questions do you have?  What details stand out for you?  What is your favorite part of this story?  What stories from your own life does this story remind you of?  What is God doing here?

Song:  Pharoah, Pharoah
For me, it’s not summer until this old favorite makes the rounds.  Enjoy!

Activity:  Pass the Basket
It has finally gotten hot here, so my kids have been spending a lot of time in the pool.  One of their favorite “pool toys” is a Little Tykes picnic basket.  One day, they were floating it on the surface of the pool and passing it back and forth, and it reminded me of the story we had just learned from Exodus.  I introduced it as a game, and now it has stuck.  My girls take turns, one being the princess who rescues baby Moses, one being Miriam, Moses’ smart sister, and one making crying baby noises on behalf of the pretend “baby” in the real basket.  They pass it back and forth across the pool, saying, “Here you go, Princess” and “Here you go, Miriam,” trying to get it to go farther and farther without sinking the basket.  It is another game that I have introduced once and they have replicated multiple times, and helps them to remember the story even when we are not formally doing God Time.  I hope your kids enjoy it, too!  (If it is not hot where you live at this time of year, this could easily be a bath time game with a smaller bowl for a basket.)

Thanks for your commitment to faithfully feed your family’s faith!  I hope that this time was holy time for you.

Closing Prayer: (Can be a repeat after me prayer if you have non-readers in your family)
Dear God, we thank you that for holy time together as a family.  Thank you for creating us and all that exists.  Help us to remember that you think it is all very good!  In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Jesus is the Light of the World: John 1:1-5

Gathering Prayer: (Do this prayer repeat-after-me style)
Dear Jesus, we thank you for time to feed our faith as a family, and time to learn about how your Son is the light of the world.  Help our time together to be holy time.  In your name we pray, Amen.

Bible Story:  John 1:1-5
Our parish just finished Vacation Bible School, and one of the main emphases this year was the Jesus is the light of the world.  This story is often read on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, and reminds us also of the creation story in Genesis, which we learned about last week.  Take some time to read it out loud together (maybe even in repeat-after-me style):

John 1:1-5 (NRSV version)
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was in the beginning with God. ³ All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being ⁴ in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. ⁵ The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

Discuss as a family:
Who do you think the Word is? What was the Word’s job?  What came into being through him?  What is the light like?

One of my favorite mentors, Rich Melheim, talks about how, when you open a door from a light room into a dark room, the light spills into the darkness, but not the other way around.  For me, this is a helpful image when thinking about what it means that Jesus came into the world as the light of the world.  It changed forever because of him!

Song:  Light of the World
For our song this week, we reviewed the Bible School Song “Light of the World.”  Here is the lyric video, provided to Life Tree Kids by Group on Youtube:

Activity:  Light of the World Necklaces
For this week’s activity, I purchased LED heart necklaces from the Dollar Store.  You could also get glow bracelets, or necklaces, or mini-flashlights.  After we unwrapped them, my girls had a great time spreading Jesus’ light wherever they went for the next couple of days.  Every once in a while, I would ask “Who is the light of the world?” and they would tell me “Jesus!”  It’s a simple way to have this week’s story stick with you!  Here are a couple of pics of the fun we had (they were moving so fast that I couldn’t get all of them in focus at once.  You get the idea, right? J ): (5,6, arms up)

Thanks for your commitment to faithfully feed your family’s faith!  I hope that this time was holy time for you.

Closing Prayer: (Can be a repeat after me prayer if you have non-readers in your family)
Dear Jesus, we thank you for holy time together as a family.  Thank you for being the light of the world.  In your name we pray, Amen.

Majestic God: Psalm 8:1

Gathering Prayer: (Do this prayer repeat-after-me style)
Dear Jesus, we thank you for time to feed our faith as a family, and time to learn about how majestic the Lord truly is.  Help our time together to be holy time.  In your name we pray, Amen.

Bible Verse:  Psalm 8:1
Our house is preparing for Bible School by listening to the songs over and over…and over!  This year, our parish is using Group Publishing’s Cave Quest VBS.  One of my kids’ favorite songs from this disk is “Majestic.”  The words to this song sounded like a psalm to me, and when I looked it up, indeed it was!  Time to make a Family God Time devotion from it!

The first verse of Psalm 8 is this:
O Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is
your name in all the earth.

Most of the words in this verse are probably familiar to your kids, with the exception of “majestic.”  Ask them if they have ever heard the phrase “Your Majesty” referring to a king or a queen (if they have ever watched Peppa Pig, they will have!).  An easy definition of “majestic” is “king or queen-like.  Therefore, what we are saying in this verse is that God’s name is king-like over all of the earth, or God reigns as king over all the earth.

We made up some motions to go with this verse:
O Lord, our Lord (sign-language “L” from left shoulder to right waist)
How majestic is (pretend to put a crown on your head)
Your name in all the earth. (palms up, hands move down toward the earth)

Discuss as a family:
What does it mean that God reigns over all the earth?

Song:  Majestic
This song is from Group Cave Quest VBS.  You can find it on their CD.  You can also hear a preview of the song here:

https://www.group.com/category/ministry-resources/childrens-ministry/vbs/cave-quest.do#div-Music

If you do not have access to this song, I suggest “Beautiful Savior” as an alternative:

 

Activity:  Majestic Crowns
I found this simple idea on Pinterest:
Paper Plate Crowns

Lately, my oldest wants to add jewels to everything, so our crowns included jewels at the points.  My middle child is still wearing hers several days after the fact!

Here are a couple of pics of the completed project (pre-jewel treatment):

Thanks for your commitment to faithfully feed your family’s faith!  I hope that this time was holy time for you.

Closing Prayer: (Can be a repeat after me prayer if you have non-readers in your family)
Dear God, we thank you that for holy time together as a family.  Help us to remember that your name is majestic in all the earth.  In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Jesus Makes a Home for Us: John 14

For Vacation Bible School this summer, our parish used Group Publishing’s curriculum “Everest:  Conquering Challenges with God’s Mighty Power.”  This is the last week of family devotions based on the five Bible stories that we learned at VBS.  (If you missed last week’s, find it here: https://familygodtime.wordpress.com ).  Enjoy learning from your kids; you might be surprised what they have to teach you!

Supplies:  God Time pillows, candle and holder (see “Gathering,” below), a family Bible with this story or access to the internet, your VBS CD, Popsicle sticks, glue, card stock, markers or crayons

Gather:  We like to sit in a circle on the floor for God Time.  Finding some pillows or cushions to sit on makes it even more comfortable.  My kids like to use pillow pets for this purpose!  Once you are in a circle, light a candle (or turn on a battery-operated one; we use an LED tea light in a pretty metal container).

Story:  You can read the story from John 14:1-3 in your children’s Bible, or find it here: John 14:1-3

Discuss:  Do you ever have guests in your home?  What do you do to get your house ready for guests?  Do you ever visit overnight at someone else’s house?  What does it feel like to know that they prepared a place for you?  Jesus said that he is preparing a place for us in heaven.  What do you think that will be like?  How does it make you feel?

Song:   Vacation Bible School Dance Party:  If you want to, you and your family can take this opportunity to have your very own VBS Dance Party.  Play the music, do the actions, or just dance!  If you would like to learn a new song, you can check out this cover of “Where I am, there you may also be” by Rich Mullins:

Activity:  At Home Picture Frames

We did this activity in three parts, to allow for drying time.  First, we made the back of the picture frame with popsicle sticks, like this:

 

Then, we colored pictures of our family and Jesus on pieces of cardstock small enough to fit the back.  We glued it to the back, and then added a “roof” and floor” with more popsicle sticks.  See the finished product, below:

                     

If your kids can write, they could write:  Where I Am, There You Will Be Also”—Jesus on the roof and floor in marker.  We plan to set ours on a decorative shelf in the dining room where we can see them.

Prayer:  This week, the prayer was led by my older daughter.  She had us repeat after her:  Thank you, Jesus, for making a place for us in heaven.  Thank you for all the family who comes to take care of us, and for places to go on vacation.  In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen.

God Time on the Road! Jesus Dies and Comes Back to Life (Luke 22-23)

For Vacation Bible School this summer, our parish used Group Publishing’s curriculum “Everest:  Conquering Challenges with God’s Mighty Power.”  This is the fourth week of family devotions based on the five Bible stories that we learned at VBS.  (If you missed last week’s, find it here: https://familygodtime.wordpress.com ).  Enjoy learning from your kids; you might be surprised what they have to teach you!

Supplies:  a children’s story Bible with the Easter Story, a car DVD player (optional), a Children’s DVD of the Easter Story, a set of foam crosses, a set of heart-shaped foam stickers, your VBS CD

Gather:  We live a little far out in the country, and sometimes Sabbath time means traveling.  For this God Time, we were in the car.  It helps to start any long journey with prayer, so we prayed before we pulled out of the driveway:  Dear God, keep us safe on our journey.  Help us to have patience with one another, and to arrive quickly and safely at our destination.  In your Son’s name we pray, Amen.

Discuss:  Before the movie, tell your kids that you want to learn from them.  Tell them to watch or listen carefully so that they can tell you about the Easter story.

Story:  You can read the story from your children’s Bible, or have your kids look at the pictures and tell you the story.  You could also have them watch a DVD about this story (our favorite is Episode 10 of What’s in the Bible with Buck Denver.  You can download it here:  http://store.whatsinthebible.com/collections/dvds/products/dvd-10

Discuss:  After the movie (or story from your children’s Bible), ask them questions about what they learned.  Some questions might include:  What happened to Jesus on Good Friday?  What happened after he died?  What happened three days later?  Why are we so happy about Easter?

Song:   Vacation Bible School Dance Party:  If you want to, you and your family can take this opportunity to have your very own VBS Dance Party.  Play the music in the car, do the actions, or just dance in your seat!  You could also sing some of your favorite Holy Week and Easter songs.  My kids and I like to make up new verse to “Were You There,” for instance.  Since the kids focused on Jesus’ forgiveness of Peter during this day of Bible School, you could try this verse:

Were you there when he washed away our sin?
Were you there when he washed away our sin?
Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when he washed away my sin?

Activity:  Loving Crosses
To help us to remember this story, I got a package of foam crosses and heart shaped foam stickers.  My kids stuck the stickers to the crosses to remind us that Jesus showed just how much he loved us on the cross.  Here is a picture of the final result:

Prayer:  To be honest, it was raining when we got to our destination, and I dropped off half the family at the door, and had to run with one of my kids through the rain, so we forgot to do a closing prayer this week.  We could have prayed like this:  Thank you, Jesus, for our safe travels, and for loving us so much that you died on the cross.  We are so happy that you are alive, and that you give us life, too.  Amen.

God Heals Namaan’s Leprosy: II Kings 5

For Vacation Bible School this summer, our parish used Group Publishing’s curriculum “Everest:  Conquering Challenges with God’s Mighty Power.”  This is the third week of family devotions based on the five Bible stories that we learned at VBS.  (If you missed last week’s, find it here: https://familygodtime.wordpress.com ).  Enjoy learning from your kids; you might be surprised what they have to teach you!

Supplies:  God Time pillows, candle and holder (see “Gathering,” below), My First Hands-On Bible (or other children’s or family Bible), access to the internet, a box of dollar store adhesive bandages (I got 60 for $1), a permanent marker, a camera

Gather:  We like to sit in a circle on the floor for God Time.  Finding some pillows or cushions to sit on makes it even more comfortable.  My kids like to use pillow pets for this purpose!  Once you are in a circle, light a candle (or turn on a battery-operated one; we use an LED tea light in a pretty metal container).

Story:  Read the story of the God Heals Naaman’s Leprosy from II Kings 5 in My First Hands-On Bible or another children’s or family Bible.  If you are using the My First Hands-On Bible, feel free to do the activities and questions described there.  If you don’t have a children’s Bible, check out this version:  II Kings 5:1-15

Discuss:  What do you think it would have been like to have leprosy?  What did Elisha tell Naaman to do to be healed?  Did he want to do it?  Why or why not?  Did what Elisha told him to do work?  Do you think that we can pray to God for healing, too?

Song:   Vacation Bible School Dance Party:  If you want to, you and your family can take this opportunity to have your very own VBS Dance Party.  Play the music, do the actions, or just get up and dance!

If you want to learn a new song, you could learn my prayer song for healing, available on youtube:

Activity:  Pictures of Healing

To help us to remember this story, I got a box of 60 adhesive bandages from the Dollar Store for $1.  We opened the packages, and drew crosses in the center, and stuck them all over our bodies.  Some we just stuck on, and others, we stuck on in the shape of a cross.  Then, we took a bunch of pictures to remind us that God heals!  You can see some of the pictures, below:

        

Prayer:  (You can do this all together, or as a “repeat after me” prayer, depending on reading ability) You can use the “Heal Me, Jesus” song as a prayer, substituting names of people you know who need healing.  Or you can simply pray:  Dear Jesus, we know that there are lots of people who need to be healed.  Please heal (name people you know here; or you can use the names from Sunday’s bulletin).  In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

God Speaks to Elijah: I Kings 19:1-15

For Vacation Bible School this summer, our parish used Group Publishing’s curriculum “Everest:  Conquering Challenges with God’s Mighty Power.”  This is the second week of family devotions based on the five Bible stories that we learned at VBS.  (If you missed last week’s, find it here: https://familygodtime.wordpress.com/2015/06/04/ravens-feed-elijah-i-kings-171-7/).  Enjoy learning from your kids; you might be surprised what they have to teach you!

Supplies:  God Time pillows, candle and holder (see “Gathering,” below), a family Bible with this story or access to the internet, containers with lids (or empty toilet paper roll), dried beans (peas, corn, pebbles), fancy duct tape

Gather:  We like to sit in a circle on the floor for God Time.  Finding some pillows or cushions to sit on makes it even more comfortable.  My kids like to use pillow pets for this purpose!  Once you are in a circle, light a candle (or turn on a battery-operated one; we use an LED tea light in a pretty metal container).

Activity:  Noise Makers

Today, we will make the activity first, because we need it to tell the story.  Take an empty container with a lid or a toilet paper tube or paper towel tube cut in half.  Fill it with dried beans, peas, corn, or small pebbles.  Close the lid and cover with fancy duct tape.  Voila!  Noise makers!  See the pictures for this activity below:

1.    2.    3.    4.    5.    6.  

Story Scavenger Hunt:  To tell this story, you and your family will now need to go on a scavenger hunt.  I urge you to make this a part of your God Time; help them to find all of these things, don’t make it work by doing it yourself.  As a family, look for these things and bring them to your God Time area:
Fan (or something that makes wind)
Blanket (large enough for your whole family to sit around)
Balls (small balls that won’t hurt anything if they get tossed around inside.  You could also use rolled up socks)
Matches/candle/grill/bonfire pit (or something that makes fire)
Noisemakers

Once you have gathered all of these items in your God Time area, you are ready to begin the story.  You can tell it like this:

One time, God told Elijah to go to a cave and wait there until God arrived.  So Elijah went.  While he was waiting, there was a giant wind (turn on the fan and encourage your family to make wind noises).  But God wasn’t in the wind.  After the wind, there was an earthquake (shake the blanket with the balls in the middle).  But God wasn’t in the earthquake.  After the earthquake, there was a fire (light the fire).  But God wasn’t in the fire (put the fire out).  All of those things had been really loud (shake the noise makers)!  After all of this, there was the sound of sheer silence.  Elijah went out of the cave, and God spoke to Elijah in a tiny whisper.  “I love you,” God whispered, “and I will take care of you, no matter what.”

My family did this story about three times in a row, with my girls catching on a little more each time.

Discuss:  When God was hiding in the cave, what came first?  What came second?  What came third?  When did God finally show up?  What did God have to say to Elijah?  Why do you think God encouraged Elijah?  How do you think God encourages you?  How can we be encouraging of others?

Song:   Vacation Bible School Dance Party:  If you want to, you and your family can take this opportunity to have your very own VBS Dance Party.  Play the music, do the actions, or just get up and dance!

If you want to learn a new song, you could learn my Holy Spirit Song with actions.  Here is the Youtube video:

Prayer:  (You can do this all together, or as a “repeat after me” prayer, depending on reading ability) Dear God, we thank you that you spoke to Elijah in a whisper.  Help us to always listen for your voice, and to encourage one another.  In your name we pray, Amen.

Ravens Feed Elijah: I Kings 17:1-7

Our parish just finished a great week of Vacation Bible School.  This year, we used Group Publishing’s curriculum “Everest:  Conquering Challenges with God’s Mighty Power.”  For the next five weeks, our Family God Time will be based on the five stories that we learned in Bible School.  Maybe some of our kids will be able to teach our parents a thing or two about these stories!

Supplies:  God Time pillows, candle and holder (see “Gathering,” below), a family Bible with this story or access to the internet, ingredients for pita bread (see “Activity,” below)

Gather:  We like to sit in a circle on the floor for God Time.  Finding some pillows or cushions to sit on makes it even more comfortable.  My kids like to use pillow pets for this purpose!  Once you are in a circle, light a candle (or turn on a battery-operated one; we use an LED tea light in a pretty metal container).

Story:  Read the story of the Ravens Feed Elijah from I Kings 17 in My First Hands-On Bible or another children’s or family Bible.  If you are using the My First Hands-On Bible, feel free to do the activities described there.  If you don’t have a children’s Bible, check out this version:  I Kings 17:1-7

Discuss:  Do you remember a time when you were hungry or thirsty?  Tell these stories to one another.  What do you think it would be like for a raven (a big black bird) to bring you food?  Have you ever gotten to drink water from a stream, river, or lake?  What was it like (what do you imagine it would be like)?  How does God provide food to you and your family?

Song:   Vacation Bible School Dance Party:  If you want to, you and your family can take this opportunity to have your very own VBS Dance Party.  Play the music, do the actions, or just get up and dance!

If you want to learn a new song, you could learn the chorus of “We Plow the Fields and Scatter” from church.  Here are the words and the motions we use in our family:

All good gifts around us (arms in together to out)
Are sent from heaven above (arms up to sky)
We thank you, Lord (sign “thank you” and “god”)
We thank you, Lord (sign “thank you” and “god”)
For all your love (arms in slowly to sign for “love”)

You can find the tune here:  http://www.hymnary.org/text/we_plow_the_fields_and_scatter (click on “Midi” to hear the song)

Activity:  Make pita bread on pizza stone (or other bread).

When my husband was a kid, his dad was stationed in Saudi Arabia in the Air Force, and the whole family lived there for a few years.  One of his favorite memories from his time there was going to the marketplace and watching men with special ovens make fresh pita bread.  They would roll out the dough and throw it on the roof of the oven.  It would stick there until it was done baking.  When it fell, the men would take it out and serve it, piping hot.  He has learned how to make it in a similar way at home with a regular oven and a pizza stone, and the recipe follows.  If you are not feeling this ambitious, you could also make toast with your kids, or grill bread on the grill and talk about how Elijah’s bread was made on hot stones (see I Kings 19:3-8 for another story about Elijah getting fed by angels).

Pita bread
1c warm water
1 T sugar (or honey)
1 T dry yeast (1 pkg.)
3c All Purpose flour
1 t salt
3 T olive oil

1. Mix the warm water, sugar, and  yeast together.  Let it sit for five minutes, or until lots of bubbles form on the surface.
2. In another bowl, mix together the flour and salt. Add the olive oil and yeast mixture and knead together to form a ball.
3. Cover the bowl and let the dough rise until it has doubled in size (about 30 minutes). Preheat the oven to 500-525 degrees with the pizza stone inside.
4. Divide the dough into 12 even pieces. Roll each piece out on a floured surface with a rolling pin.
5. Depending on the size of your pizza stone, you can fit 2-3 at a time. Carefully slide them onto the pizza stone and close the oven.  Watch them with the oven light on until they puff up and turn light brown.
6. CAUTION! Hot steam!  Remove them from the oven carefully and transfer them to a plate.  Cover with a cloth to keep warm.  Serve with butter or olive oil or stuff with your favorite sandwich fixings.

Here are some pics of the Pita process:

Prayer:  (You can do this all together, or as a “repeat after me” prayer, depending on reading ability) Say or sing the refrain from “We Plow the Fields and Scatter,” located above.  Just add an “Amen!”